The Supreme Court allowed the execution of Dustin Higgs late Friday, making Higgs the thirteenth person to be killed by the federal government since July. Since July. And after seventeen years without a single federal execution. Higgs’ execution was a miscarriage of justice for a number of issues. First of all, he was suffering from covid-19… Continue reading Dustin Higgs’ Execution Was Wrong and What Sotomayor Had to Say About it is Right.
Category: Constitutional Law
SCOTUS Dodges Issue of Removing Undocumented Immigrants from Census
The Supreme Court has dismissed as premature a challenge to President Trump’s plan to exclude people living in the country without legal documents from the Census’ population count, used to allot states seats in the House of Representatives. The six conservative judges on the Court said that until action is actually taken and people are… Continue reading SCOTUS Dodges Issue of Removing Undocumented Immigrants from Census
Texas Indictment of Netflix Over “Cuties” Violates First Amendment, Denigrates Art
There is much wrong with a Texas County deciding to indict Netflix for its distribution of the French film Cuties. First about the movie – Netflix released “Cuties,” originally titled “Mignonnes,” last month to strong national reaction. The French-language film centers on 11-year-old Amy, a Senegalese immigrant, who becomes a member of a dance group dubbed the “Cuties.”… Continue reading Texas Indictment of Netflix Over “Cuties” Violates First Amendment, Denigrates Art
Fed Judge Grants Qualified Immunity But Writes Powerful Decision Against It
Federal Judge Carlton Reeves, of the Southern District of Mississippi, ruled that the doctrine of qualified immunity meant that a white police officer could not be sued for racially profiling and then terrorizing an innocent black man on the side of the road. Judge Reeves ruled that the law required the dismissal of the case… Continue reading Fed Judge Grants Qualified Immunity But Writes Powerful Decision Against It
In Another 5-4 SCOTUS Decision, Religious Schools Can Now Get Gov’t Funding
This SCOTUS season is turning this into a full-time Supreme Court Blog which is not what it is supposed to be. But these past few decisions have been so important -not just for the decisions themselves, but as a window into this divided, politicized Court, that I wanted to write about them. In a huge… Continue reading In Another 5-4 SCOTUS Decision, Religious Schools Can Now Get Gov’t Funding
In Yet Another 5-4 decision SCOTUS Strikes Down Louisiana’s Restrictive Abortion Law
Its been a heck of a SCOTUS term so far, with key rulings on Gay Rights; DACA and now abortion. This decision today in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, is a great relief to supporters of women’s reproductive rights. Since the language of this law was nearly identical to the Texas law struck down… Continue reading In Yet Another 5-4 decision SCOTUS Strikes Down Louisiana’s Restrictive Abortion Law
5-4 SCOTUS Upholds DACA: Admin Had No Right to Terminate Program
Another day, another big loss for the Trump Administration and I would argue another great win for American society. In a 5-4 vote, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the liberal wing of the Court to form a majority, the Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)… Continue reading 5-4 SCOTUS Upholds DACA: Admin Had No Right to Terminate Program
SCOTUS Rules LGBTQ Workers Covered Under Civil Rights Act
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and transgender status, a major victory for advocates of gay rights; the transgender rights movement; and anyone who recognizes the invalidity of discrimination against any class of people on… Continue reading SCOTUS Rules LGBTQ Workers Covered Under Civil Rights Act
SCOTUS Opinion on COVID Church Restriction is Brief But Says a lot About the Court.
A few days ago, at midnight, the Supreme Court rejected a church’s challenge to California’s COVID-19 restrictions by a 5–4 vote, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining what is considered the liberal wing of Breyer, Sotomayor, Ginsburg and Kagan. In a pointed concurring opinion, Roberts chided the conservative wing for trying to override public health… Continue reading SCOTUS Opinion on COVID Church Restriction is Brief But Says a lot About the Court.